Solomon keller



1N0 Model.)

S. KELLER.

GAR COUPLING MECHANISM. No. 557,826. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

Witnesflse:% Inventor. W ,9

Jimu

I ttorney.

ANDREW BYGRAMM. PHOTUUTHQWASHINFIUNJA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON KELLER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM R. EYRIOII AND WILLIAM EHRING, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 557,826, dated April 7, 1896. Application filed December 19, 1895, Serial No. 572,668. (No model.)

To all whom it may con-corn:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON KELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, county of Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Car- Ooupling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in car-coupling mechanism, which are fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features of which are specifically pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the complete mechanism, taken on the line 00 5c of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the drawhead in section and the buffer-spring strap removed. Fig. 3 is a separate view of the buffer-spring strap. Fig. 4 is a front view of the draw-head with the coupling-j aw removed. Fig. 5 shows the T-bolt and washer separately.

The coupling-j aw or knuckle C is pivoted between the jaws B B of the draw-headA on a knuckle-pin at b in the usual manner for this class of couplings, except that considerably more space is allowed between the jaws B B for vertical movement of the couplingjaw on the knuckle-pin for a purpose hereinafter described. The coupling-jaw is pro vided with a locking-arm D, the outer end of which is tapered 01f on top, as indicated at d, Fig. 2. This arm swings back into the sidewise extension a of the central cavity a, extending through the body of the bar, and in so doing its lower face rides upon an inclined surface a in the interior of the draw-head. This compels the whole coupling-j aw to rise on the knuckle-pin a considerable distance above its normal uncoupled position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the purpose of this construction being to cause the coupling-jaw to automatically open outward when it is not locked in coupled position. This' is eifected by the weight of the coupling-jaw, which causes it to fall to its natural restingplace upon the lower jaw 13 of the draw-head, which movement causes the locking-arm D to ride outward upon the inclined surface 05, thus swinging the couplingjaw automatically into proper position for coupling with another car.

The locking device which I employ consists of a catch or latch E, which is pivoted at its rear or inner end on a transverse bolt or pin and is free to be swung upward into an extension (4 of the central draw-head cavity. This 55 I arrange to be effected in either of two waysfirst, by means of a chain F, attached to its forward end and extended through a top opening in the draw-head to a convenient lever mechanism, such as is commonly used, and, 60 second, automatically by the inward movement of the locking-arm D, the tapering surface d of which is adapted to wedge in under the correspondingly-tapered front e of the catch, so as to raise the latter out of its path until it has passed fully into the cavity extension (6', when the catch automatically drops and locks it there, only to be released by the operation of the lever mechanism re ferred to.

At the other end of the draw-bar A, I provide a buffer-spring pocket G by means of a separately-formed strap H, which spans the end of the bar and is clamped thereto in the following manner: The ends of the strap are formed with heel-pieces h h, separated by a slotted openingh for the passage of a clampingbolt N. These heels engage ofisets formed on the top and bottom of the draw-bar. Recesses k 71 in the edges of the strap and i 2' in the draw-bar are engaged at the top by the depending portions 72 'n of the T-bolt N and at the bottom by the portions 0 0 of a washer O, which is clamped in place by a nut on the threaded end 77. of the bolt. The buffer-spring L is strung upon the longitudinal bolt Kbetween follower-plates M M, the ends of which are guided, as usual, in suitable pockets fixed to the sills of the car. The bolt K is introduced from the coupling end of the bar through the central cavity a.

What I claim is The combination with the rear end of a draw-bar such as described, of a strap H spanning the bar and provided with heels h h, side recesses 7L2 72. and bolt-openings h, corresponding offsets and recesses on the draw-bar end, and a T-bolt N and washer O engaging the strap and bar substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON KELLER.

ICO

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. A. CORNETT, CAMERON E. STRAUSS. 

